Offset for sawmill-carriages.



H. S. MINOR.

OFFSET FOR SAWMILL GARRIAGBS.

APPLIGATION FILED JULYZ'I, 1908.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

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H. S. MNRE OFFSET FOR SAWMILL GARRAGES.

APPLICATION HLED JULY2'1,190B.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910.

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toward the saw.

HENRY SAMUEL MINOR, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

OFFSET FOR SAWMILL-CARRIAGES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY SAMUEL MINOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bakersfield, in the county of Kern and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Offsets for Sawmill-Carriages, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of offset mechanisms for saw-mill carriages, by which the carriage and log are moved a short distance away from the saw when gigging back, and are returned to their original position when feeding.

The carriage must be held rigidly in position at all times, particularly when feeding, so that any point will move in the same straight line when moving in the same direction. The operation of moving the carriage away from the saw should be accomplished as quickly, or in as short travel as possible, and it should be returned in the same manner. The saw should not touch the log until after the carriage has completely regained its position and is moving in a straight line These are the essentials of an offset mechanism, and to attain them and other desirable results, which I shall hereinafter fully point out, is the object of my invention, which consists in the novel constructions, arrangements and combinations hereinafter fully described.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of one end of the saw-mill carriage, showing the application thereto of the offset mechanism. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view, enlarged, of the friction end of the offset-lever. Fig. 4 is an end view, enlarged, of the same. Fig. 5 is a side view of the same. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a modification of the outer clamp. Fig. 7 is an end view of the same.

1 are stringers upon which are laid the inner rail 2 and the outer or guide-rail 3 of the carriage track.

The carriage comprises a front timber 4, an outer timber 5, and suitable cross connections.

6 is one of the axles of the carriage, 7 one of the inner wheels, and S-one of the outer wheels.

The carriage is so mounted, as usual, that it may move sidewise to effect its offset, there being for this purpose sufficient clearance between its timbers and the wheels.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 27, 1908.

Patented Feb. 22, 1910. Serial No. 445,559.

9 is one of the offset-levers. At one end it is pivoted by a bolt 10 to the under side of the front carriage timber 4, the pivotal bearing being best formed between an anchor plate 11 and a safety strap 12 bolted to said timber. The lever 9 extends across under the carriage and its outer endoverlies the guiderail 3. To this overlying end are pivoted the guide-rail clamps, which in the form here shown consist of friction blocks 13 which carry the friction shoes 14, preferably made of wood. These shoes bear against and grip the guide-rail 3, which rail may be an ordinary flat topped rail, or other shape in cross section, though here shown as a V- rail.

The pivotal connections of the blocks 13 with the offset-lever 9 are made by means of bolts 15 which pass down into them through elongated slots 16 in the lever. This gives an adjustable connection for the outer shoe, so that by means of an adjusting screw 17 in the lever end, the shoe of the outer block may be set up to the rail to compensate f for wear. It also provides for a yielding connection for the inner shoe, formed by a plunger-pin 18 passing through a backingblock 19 riveted to the lever 9, and having its other end bearing on the back of the inner friction block.

A spring Q0 produces the required pres sure of the plunger-pin on the block, and serves the further purpose of relieving the strain occasioned by loading or turning the logs on the carriage.

In order to permit the friction blocks 13 to shift or turn on theirl pivotal connections without binding and without wearing the pressure devices which set them up, it is best to round the back of the blocks, as I have shown at 21 on the outer block; and to interpose between the adjusting screw 17 and said rounded block, a correspondingly faced bearing plate 22.

Bolted to the outer face of the outer carriage timber 5 is a plate 23 which projects down over and nearly to the offset-lever 9, preventing any tendency of said lever to lift up from the rail. To this plate Q3 are bolted the stop-lugs 24, one on each side of the offset-lever 9, and directly in its path of movement when swinging on its pivotal connection at its other end. 'Io vary the distance between these stop-lugs, and thus vary the length of movement of the lever 9 between them, and the consequent distance of carriage offset, I show a series of holes 25 in plate Q8, in any of which holes one of the lugs may be bolted.

It will be understood that there will be two or more of these offsetting devices on the carriage; and, in order to indicate that they operate in unison, I show connected with the offset-lever 9, a link 26 which may be supposed to extend to and to be connectu ed with the other corresponding otl'set levers.

Although I have described the outer meinber of the guideail clamp as a block, 1t will readily be understood that said member may be a wheel 27, as I indicate .in Figs. 6 and 7.

The operation is as follows :-I7hen the carriage has started on its feeding stroke, that is, moving toward the saw, which is the position here shown, the oifsetlever 1s perpendicular to the rails, and 1s against one of the stop-lugs 211. The carriage is thus held over to its feeding position, and the lever 9 travels with it in the position shown in the full lines. Now, upon starting to gig back, that is, to return after the board has been sawed olii, the friction of the shoes 14 on the guide-rail 3, and the inertia due to the weight of the lever 9 and its connected parts, cause the outer or friction end of said lever to lag behind, thereby throwing said lever to anl oblique angle with the rails, as is indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. l. In assuming this oblique position, the lever pulls the carriage over or offsets it. Then, when the other stop-lug 24 reaches the lagging end of the lever, it picks it up, and thereafter, throughout the gigging back. the lever is held in the oblique position, with the carriage in its offset position. lVhen the end of the gig-back travel is reached, and the carriage again starts on its feeding stroke, the outer or friction end of the lever 9 again lags behind, until the lever reaches its first position, perpendicular to the rails; and during this movement, the lever throws the carriage back to its first position; and then, when the first stop-lug 24 reaches said lever, it picks it up and thereafter it travels with the carriage in said first position. It will thus be seen that when the carriage is moved in either direction, the friction on the rail and the inertia of the levers, blocks, shoes, etc., cause the outer ends of the levers to lag behind or to be retarded. As soon as the levers come up against the stop-lugs on the carriage, they remain stationary with reference to the carriage, and are swept along with it. By placing these stop-lugs so that the levers are perpendicular to the rails when the carriage is feeding, and at an oblique angle to them when gigging back,

the carriage is caused to move away from the saw on reversing after feeding.

The distance the carriage offsets depends upon the length of the levers and the distance apart of the stop-lugs 24, and may be made any distance desired. Two such levers 9 are sufficient to operate any ordinary carriage, but an extremely long or heavy carriage may be equipped with three or more.

As before stated, the spring 20 has a dou` ble function. Besides keeping the shoe up against the rail, it receives the shocks from loading and turning the logs, and to a great extent relieves the head-blocks and all other portions of the carriage of this jar, which is often sufiicient when handling a. heavy log on the carriage, to break the heavy and expensive castings of other offset mechanisms.

The entire device is independent of the axles and wheels, so that a broken wheel or a sprung axle may be removed and another fitted without interference. It is accurate, positive and durable. It is in plain view off the operators at all times and is easy to get at. It requires little oil, and it will operate as quickly and as far as desired.A

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. An oifset for saw-mill carriages, coinprising an offset-lever pivoted at one end to the front timber of the carriage and thence extending under the carriage and overlying the guide-rail thereof; a pair of friction clamps projecting downwardly 'from andi carried by the overlying end of the lever, adapted to engage the guide-rail between them to temporarily retard said end and swing the lever to offset the carriage; the said clamps being bodily adjustable relative one to the other and stops on the carriage to limit the swing of the lever.

2. An offset for saw-mill carriages, comprising an offset-lever pivoted at one end to the front timber of the carriage and thence extending under the carriage and overlying the guide-rail thereof; a pair of friction clamps carried by said overlying end of the lever, adapted to engage the outer and inner faces of the guide-rail to temporarily retard said end and swing the lever to offset the carriage; means for applying a yielding` pressure to the inner clamp; and stops on the carriage to limitl the swing of he lever.

3. An offset for saw-mill carriages, comprising an offset-lever pivoted at one end to the front timber of the carriage and thence extending' under the carriage and overlying the guide-rail thereof; a pair of friction clamps carried by said overlying end of the lever, adapted to engage the outer and inner faces of the guide-rail to temporarily retard said end and swing the lever to offset the'v clamp to said rail; means for applying a yielding pressure to the inner clamp; and stops on the carriage to limit the swing of the lever.

4. An offset for saw-mill carriages, comprising an offset-lever pivoted at one end to the front timber of the carriage and thence extending under the carriage and overlying the guide-rail thereof; a pair of friction clamps carried by said overlying end of the lever, adapted to engage the outer and inner faces of the guide-rail to temporarily retard said end and swing the lever to offset the carriage; means for adjusting the outer clamp to said rail; a spring to hold the inner clamp to the guide-rail with a yielding pressure; and stops on the carriage to limit the swing of the lever.

5. An offset for saw-mill carriages, comprising an offset-lever pivoted at one end to the front timber of the carriage and at its other end overlying the guide-rail of said carriage; a pair of friction clamps adjustably pivoted to said overlying end of the lever, adapted to engage the inner and outer faces of the guide-rail to temporarily retard said end and swing the lever to offset the carriage; means for setting up the outer clamp to the rail; a spring to yieldingly hold the inner clamp to the rail; and stops on the carriage to limit the swing of the lever.

6. An offset for saw-mill carriages, comprising an offset-lever pivoted at one end to the front timber of the carriage and at its other end overlying the guide-rail of said carriage; a pair of friction clamps adjustably pivoted to said overlying end of the lever, adapted to engage the inner and outer faces of the guide-rail to temporarily retard said end and swing the lever to offset the carriage; means for setting up the outer clamp to the rail; a spring to yieldingly hold the inner clamp to the rail; stops on the carriage to limit the swing of the lever; and a late on the carriage above the overlying end of the lever to hold it down to the vguide-rail.

7. A n offset for saw mill carriages having the usual front and rear timbers, an offset lever pivoted at one end to the front timber and extending continuously to a point over lapping the guide rail, longitudinal slots in the lever one upon each side of the guide rail, shoes one upon each side of the guide rail, and projections on the shoes adapted to slidably engage within the slots of the lever with means for holding the projections and the shoes carried thereby in adjusted positions.

8. An offset for saw mill carriages having the usual front and rear timbers, an offset lever pivoted at one end to the front timber and extending continuously to a point overlapping the guide rail, and terminating in a downward projection, a shoe mounted on the under surface of the lever arranged to engage the inner face of the guide rail, and a cooperating shoe for the outer face of the rail connected to the under surface of the lever for relative sliding movement, and means carried by the downward projection of the lever for holding the adjustable shoe in position to engage the outer face of the guide rail.

9. An offset for saw mill carriages having the usual front and rear timbers, an oset lever pivoted at one end to the front timber and extending continuously to a point overlapping the guide rail, a shoe slidably connected to the under surface of the lever, a rod extending inwardly from the shoe, a lug on the lever having a sleeved connection with the rod, a spring on the rod between the lug and shoe for normally holding the latter in engagement with the inner face of the guide rail, and a cooperating shoe slidably connected to the under side of the lever to engage the outer face of the rail, and means for holding the latter in adjusted position.

l0. An offset for saw mill carriages having the usual front and rear timbers, an offset lever pivoted at one end to the front timber and extending continuously to a point overlapping the guide rail, shoes upon the outer end of the lever to engage opposite sides of the guide rail and means for connecting the shoes to the under surface of the lever whereby they may have swinging and longitudinal movement relative to the lever.

l1. An offset for saw mill carriages having the usual front and rear timbers, an oiset lever pivoted at one end to the front timber and extending continuously to a point overlapping the guide rail, shoes secured to the under surface of the outer end of the lever and projecting downwardly therefrom to engage opposite sides of the guide rail the said shoes being laterally adjustable relative to one another and stops extending downwardly from the rear beam of the carriage at a- .point between the respective shoes to engage directly with the lever intermediate the shoes and limit the swinging movement thereof in opposite directions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY SAMUEL MINOR.

Witnesses A. W. MASON, J oHNNlE PLUMMER. 

